Yet again a scorching hot day at a dry Harpenden Common and with England playing a staccato day of Herts League cricket ensued.

Harpenden won the toss and batted first on a green pitch and Bar had to do without four first teamers as they went in search of a win to keep them on the coattails of the top 4.

Bar got off to a flier as Gregg Cooper was clean bowled by Jigar Mehta for 4 but it was a day for the batters and this was to prove the case. The hosts batted nicely and Nick Lamb and Ben Clements saw the new ball off and built a good partnership. Clements the more fluid of the two completed his 50 in 70 balls with his seventh boundary and the pair put on 98 in 141 balls as James Scott bowled the Australian.

Ben Frazer came and went as he was bowled by Kamran Younas for 1 as Bar got amongst the home side middle order. Nick Lamb completed his 50 in 78 balls and James Latham survived a regulation chance at cover on 17 but the home side went to tea sat 153 for 3 from 38 overs. Bar needed to drag their heels before the 2.50pm cut-off for the football, which meant they had around 90 minutes to bowl the 22 overs remaining, thus not having to have an awkward period either side of the football break.

Alas without the spin options of Thilan Walallawita and Luke Chapman and the youthful exuberance of Teddy Duke, Bar struggled after the break and conceded 169 in 22 overs.

Latham and Lamb were shaking hands on a 100 run partnership in 136 balls and both batters were receiving raucous applause in completed their personal milestones in the 50th over. Lamb completed his 100 in 136 balls hitting a six and 8 fours and Latham his 50 in 80 balls. With 10 overs to go the home side were sat 213 for 3 and a great platform to push towards 300.

However as normal, both fell in quick succession. Lamb went for a fine 111 from 146 balls caught in the deep and Latham went in the same fashion for 77 as the hosts were 256 for 5 with 5 overs left of the innings. This however gave green light for Messrs Galloway, Axon and Neal to hit the ball hard and the trifecta scored 66 in 30 balls as Bar wilted. 322 for 7 was the final outcome with Jigar Mehta 3 for 98 from 17 and Kamran Younas 3 for 100 the ones in the wickets, albeit nursing their economy rates.

323 to win and with England in the Semi Finals meant all attention turned to the cricket.

Bar got off to a good start with a bit of pace on the ball, Harrison Palmer is a different player and he was out of the blocks like a greyhound out of trap two. He and Steve Gale put on 50 inside 9 overs, with Harrison Palmer hitting 7 boundaries and a towering 6 in his first 28 balls. Sadly it was the wicket of Steve Gale that put a halt on the fine rate as he went for 30 as he went to a catch at cover.

James Scott was now in and he looked in good touch as the home side took the pace off the ball but still Bar were going well as Bar surged past the 100 as James Scott found the boundary three times in the 20th over as the rate was now a shade over 5 an over and Harrison Palmer completed his first half century of the season in 50 balls. Skipper James Scott edged through to Axon for 33 and three overs later Harrison Palmer was caught for 67, Bar were in the cart a tad at 137 for 3.

Pat Scott and Kamran Younas were at the wicket and they looked in control and put on 47 at a run a ball but again as Bar looked in good touch they lost a wicket, this time Kamran Younas going for 30 and this left Bar 184 for 4 needing 139 to win in 111 balls. This brought in Zawar Hussain and he struck two boundaries and the handle went in his bat and with a the new bat saw three consecutive enormous sixes deposited to the boundary as Bar looked capable of winning with the equation now 93 off 78 balls, however with 9 guys on the fence its not the cakewalk some suggested.

However the match defining moment for many arrived. Nick Lamb bowled a short ball to Zawar Hussain who hit it like a tracer to long leg. With the ball sailing what appeared over Ben Clements head, the Aussie took a stunning catch. Where his body finished in conjunction with the rope is one for debate as it appeared that there wasn't a great of running in to take the catch as the ball was heading towards the train station and catching the the 7.40 to Luton, calling all stations. The fielder in question took a storming catch but there did appear to be a fair bit of 'hey nonny nonny' about it and surprisingly wasn't asked if the catch was good - but there you go.

With that dismissal Bar were 239 for 5 needing 84 off 68 balls but Bar kept going and five fours and a six in 15 balls from Jigar Mehta got Bar into a challenging position but after he'd taken 18 from his previous over, he suffered a head loss and went for a blow too many and was caught in the deep for 32 in 22 balls. Bar were now 278 for 6, needing 45 from 38 balls but in fading light, the boundaries secured and a fired up home side Bar were going to come up short.

Callum Baylis snicked behind for 3 and James Ilott for 6 and the winning draw was achieved with Pat Scott bringing up his third '50' of the season in 4 innings and finished unbeaten on 61 at a run a ball as Bar finished 305 for 8 on a thrilling day for Herts League cricket and English sport in general.

Next week the boys entertain Hertford as they look to keep on track for the end of season playoffs.